I’m finding myself at a mental roadblocks when writing about our trip or just writing in general. At certain points there is one place or one area that just stops me in my tracks. And it’s not usually that it was an unpleasant experience or I don’t have anything nice to say, it’s just… for reasons unknown, I can’t really get it together about where ever it is we were (which then complete derails everything until I pick it up again). So here it goes anyway, micro steps.

The Forks is a National Historic Site, and I was completely unfamiliar with it before visiting. We were trying to figure out why it was considered a National Historic site when it seemed to just be a really nice looking market building, and a place with a weekly farmers market BUT as we found out, it’s actually a lot more than that.

The Forks is a junction point of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, and was used as a major transportation, trade, and settlement area, and was a historically important meeting place as both of those rivers are connected to an intercontinental network of water routes used by First Peoples and European settlers alike.

There are also lovely pathways to walk on, murals, historical etchings, and a garden full of only prairie plants. As well as a nice bench under a tree where we hung out with this squirrel.

The market was full of interesting things, including a few vegan food & other options, like a whole bunch of produce, a few things from a Taste of Sri Lanka, and Generation Green Market, where local Winnipeggers can buy my favourite Just the Goods body care stuff, but I zeroed in on the first big container of Saskatoon berries I saw, which JC has never had before. I think he liked them, but I probably ate most of them.

As I bit into them, the wonderful memories of being a kid and plucking them off bushes in the river valley with my mom (who likely inspired the urban forager in me) washed over me, but as delicious as they are fresh, I wish I had been able to turn them into a pie.

About MeShell

I live in Toronto with my partner JC, our brand new son, our three cats, and usually a few foster cats. I like technology, vegan food, travelling, and lots of other things.
For more information about MeShell, JC, Emmie, Kes, or Marmie, visit our About page.

4 Comments

That mural looks like a Daphne Odjig! She’s one of my favorite artists. I spent hours sitting with her paintings at the gallery. Her erotic work is pretty wild, based on First Nations folklore, huge canvases.

I love the style of this piece too. This one is by Mike Valcourt, but he said it was heavily inspired by the styles of the Indian Group of Seven, so it’s so cool that it made you think of Daphne Odjig!!!

Thanks for the link, really comprehensive discussion of Valcourt’s mural and 3900 others!- love the hand in the cookie jar bike rack. When I looked at the watch, sunglasses, belt I did wonder if it was Odjig but she was so prolific I figured it must have been hers.

I’ve always wanted to do a road trip across Canada, I haven’t made it further east than Medicine Hat.

Hey, if you get a chance, check out ‘Preggoland’ at TIFF – I say this having not seen it – Sonja Bennett wrote and stars in it, I know her from the theatre community, she has a wicked sense of humor. Should be a great independent.